Severe arm pain following stent procedure

[grandehorizontale]

Dear all, I have just joined this forum.

My mother had a mild heart attack three weeks ago tonight. She had a stent put in and all was OK but then two days after she came home from hospital, she developed a severe pain in the arm where the stent was inserted. I am not sure why they did not use the groin for the insertion. The GP is just so unconcerned and said "you can have an x ray if you like" - because she had had a previous elbow injury,. The fracture clinic said the elbow was fine. She was referred back to cardiology who said that they were not worried about the arm pain being linked to the heart or the stent procedure. The cardiologist said that he had never in 20 years seen this problem. She also has a huge bruise. My GP friend said that the aspirin that she is on and some of the other drugs are known to cause bruising. But what is causing the pain?????? She is in agony. And the Zapain (which doesn't touch the pain) that she has been taking has made her seriously constipated, so it's all hell.

Anybody had an experience like this? Responses welcomed. GH

[Gjkas]

Not exactly the same. But last year I was taken into hospital with a Suspected heart attack. My own Cardiologist wasn't there, but another Cardiologist that was on duty wanted to do an Angiogram. I told him that my Cardiologist and myself had decided against another Angiogram in the groin, because it wasn't without risk. He said that's alright we can go into the wrist, so I agreed.

When I was taken to the room where my procedure was being carried out. The Cardiologist that I saw wasn't even there. It was a young Man that I'd never even met before. He tried to go into my wrist 3 times, but said that my blood vessels were calcified so he couldn't do it there.

But then I felt like wet going on to my groin. Oh my God, he wasn't even told that he wasn't to go there except from me. He tried a few times and then he panicked. He only went and tore my major blood vessel .I was in Agony, the pain in my stomach, back and right leg Oh i remember shouting to him,

SHIT get off me. He said I can't, I have to stop the stem. It was only then that I realised what was happening. I was soaking wet and I knew that I hadn't wet myself. It was my own blood. I was flat on my back for 6 hours, couldn't move because I was in something that the only thing that I could move was my legs. 6 hours later i was taken back to the ward, they could only raise my head 1 inch every hour Oh it was horrendous. Apparently he was new in there, but he wasn't even supervised..

They want to do another Angiogram in the inside of my elbow..No chance.

The Cardiologist said that they think i need 3 stents. They can forget it.

I still get pain in my groin, and about 2 inches around that area i get like pins and needles. The skin is still puckered where the attempted Angiogram took place and that happened over a year ago..

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi GH. Welcome to the forum. Sounds like your mother is in the wars. They use the arm instead of the groin because it heals more easily and is the preferred modern method with fewer complications. The anti platelet meds that she’s on (Aspirin and probably Ticagrelor) stop the blood from sticking together. That’s good for the heart and the stent but not for general healing. My arm bruised really badly and it was a few weeks before it cleared up. I’ve seen some suggestions on this forum for bruising remedies but I can’t remember what they are. Perhaps someone will remember?

3 weeks is still early days in terms of healing. Is the pain in the wrist - where the incision was made or elsewhere? If it’s not getting better then I suggest you contact the cardio nurses at the hospital or call the BHF nurses ([phone]). It’s probably just severe bruising that’s taking a long time to heal up. But it could be something else and it might put your mind at rest.

As far as constipation is concerned - I’m afraid that could be a side effect of other meds that she’s on. Hope she feels better soon.